THE PYGMY PARROTS (Nasiternæ).
These Parrots are represented by seven little manikins which are found in New Guinea and the adjacent islands, each particular island possessing its own peculiar species. Not one of these little birds exceeds a Sparrow in size, the largest being a little over three inches and a half in length. Owing to their small size and the resemblance of the green colouring to the forests they inhabit, they are not easily seen, and until recent years were very hard to procure. In the island of Mafoor in the Bay of Geelvink, N.W., New Guinea, Baron von Rosenberg says that he found it common near Roemsaro, and several specimens, both alive and dead, were brought to him by the natives. They bred there in January and February, nesting in hollow trees and laying two eggs, the size of those of the English Bottle Titmouse. Their food consists of fruit.
THE AMAZON PARROTS (Androglossinæ).[238]
This, the second sub-family, consists of the true Parrots, of which the ordinary Grey Parrot (Psittacus erythacus) is the type. It also includes all the Green Parrots of America, which are called Amazons, as well as the Lories (Eclectus) and Love-birds (Agapornis). The head is moderately smooth, without any highly-developed crest, as in the Cockatoos, and the tail is short, or of only moderate length. The tail-feathers are generally broad and obtuse, in a few widening at the tip, or sharp at the end. In the genus Prioniturus, which inhabits the Philippine Islands, and some of the Moluccas, the two centre feathers have the shafts produced, and ending in a small spatule, or racket.
THE AMAZONS (Chrysotis).[239]
AMAZON PARROT.
These Parrots are entirely American, and are the only birds of the New World which can compete in talking powers with the African Grey Parrots, who, however, far surpass their American relatives. About thirty species of Amazon are known, all of them confined within the limits of the Neotropical region, which comprises the whole of Central and Southern America, south of an imaginary line drawn through Northern Mexico. The West India islands are also included in this area, and most of them are inhabited by a species of Amazon. The habits of all these Parrots seem to be very similar, and a good account of the Active Amazon of Jamaica (Chrysotis agilis) is given by Mr. Gosse[240]:—“All the Parrots are gregarious, cunning, watchful, noisy, mischievous; and thus are like the Monkeys. This and the Yellow-billed Parrot [Mr. Gosse’s name for C. agilis is the Black-billed Parrot] are so much alike in manners and general appearance, that a description of one applies nearly to the other. Flocks varying from half a dozen to twenty or thirty fly hither and thither over the forest, screeching as they go, and all alight together on some tree covered with berries. Here they feast, but with caution. On a slight alarm one screams, and the whole flock is on the wing, vociferous if not musical, and brilliant if not beautiful, particularly when the sun shines on their green backs and crimsoned wings. They generally prefer lofty trees, except when, in June, the ripe yellow plantain tempts them to descend, or when the blackberry shines upon the pimento. Of the latter the flocks devour an immense quantity, and the former they destroy by cutting it to pieces with their powerful beaks, to get at the small seeds. One day in January, when the pimento on the brow of Bluefields Mountain was about ready for picking, being full-sized, but yet green and hard, I observed large flocks of Black-bills, and a few Parrakeets, flying to and fro with voluble chatter, now alighting to feed on the hot, aromatic berry, now flying off, and wheeling round to the same neighbourhood again. They were not at all shy, but, with unusual carelessness of one’s proximity, scarcely moved at the report of the gun which brought their companions to the ground. Of two which I shot on this occasion, I found the craws stuffed with the cotyledons of the seed alone, the most pungently aromatic part of the berry; the fleshy part having been, as I presume, shorn off by the beak and rejected. When alighted, as is often the case, on a dry branch, their emerald hue is conspicuous, and affords a fair mark for the gunner; but in a tree of full foliage, their colour proves an excellent concealment. They seem aware of this, and their sagacity prompts them to rely on it for security. Often we hear their voices proceeding from a certain tree, or else have marked the descent of a flock upon it, but on proceeding to the spot, though the eye has not wandered from it, and we are therefore sure that they are there, we cannot discover an individual. We go close to the tree, but all is silent, and still as death; we institute a careful survey of every part with the eye, to detect the slightest motion, or the form of a bird among the leaves, but in vain; we begin to think that they have stolen off unperceived, but on throwing a stone into the tree, a dozen throats burst forth into cry, and as many green birds rush forth upon the wing. The screaming of this and the following species differs from that of the Parrakeet, so far as to be easily distinguished. That of the latter consists of a series of harsh screeches, of comparative length; that of the Parrots is less shrill, more broken into short and rapid articulations, forming a series of varying length, separated by momentary pauses. It is, in fact, much more like a hurried chattering.”
THE GREY PARROT (Psittacus erythacus).
This familiar cage-bird is a native of Africa, and it would appear to have been a favourite in England for a longer period than can be traced. They were held in great estimation at the court of the “Merry Monarch” Charles II., for his Queen Catharine of Braganza had a parrot-keeper, at a salary of £36 per annum, while the maids of honour received only £10 a year each, and the “mother of the maids” £20 per annum. Therefore, the custodian of the Parrots was better paid by £16 than the lady who held the very responsible post of care-taker of the maids of honour.[241] A Grey Parrot which lived for forty years with the Duchess of Richmond and Lennox, who died in 1702, and who was a celebrated beauty at the court of Charles II., is preserved in Westminster Abbey along with the effigy of that lady, having survived its mistress only a few days.